Washing device.



H. J. BEHRENS.

WASHING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.17. 1909.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J'. BEHRENS, OF WINONA, MINNESOTA.

WASHING DEVICE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. BEHRENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVinona, in the county of lVinona and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ashing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Ivly invention relates to an improvement in that c ass of: washing utensils or devices commonly known as clothes pounders, and which are employed in the cleansing of clothes by pounding the same down on the clothes and in the water in which they are immersed, thereby violently agitating the water and causing the quick cleansing of the clothes therein.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved device; Fig. 2 a vertical section; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view and Fig. l a broken sectional view of the valve tube and valve therein.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

1 designates the body of the washer which conical in form, and is provided at its apex with a depending tube 2 extending downwardly therein and adapted to receive the end of a handle 3 for operating the same.

l is an inverted cup-shaped member which is supported within the base of the cone by the radial blades which extend from the side of the cup member l to the inner surt'ace of the lower portion of the cone.

6 are a series of openings through the lower portion of the cone and 7 are a series of openings through the upper portion of the cone. These openings are connected together by means of the air tubes 8 which are secured on the outer surface of the cone. These tubes prevent water from splashing out of the openings 6 and 7 when the clevice is operated.

9 is a small opening extending through the upper portion of the cone and is surrounded on the exterior of the cone by a tube 10 provided at its upper end with a cap 11, having a central opening 12 therein. The cap 11 surrounds the end of the tube so that the end forms a shoulder 13 within the. cap, on which loosely rests a plate 14, said plate being of a length to extend across the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 1'7, 1909.

Serial No. 490,607.

end of the tube, but of a less width whereby said plate will act as a valve to close the opening 12 when air pressure is exerted from within the cone, and open when there is a suction created within the cone.

15 is a plate secured in the upper portion of the cone and surrounding the tube 2. This plate operates not only to close the upper portion of the cone, but also assists in securely holding the tube 2 in the cone.

In operation the downward movement causes the valve 12 to close whereby pressure is maintained within the cone. As soon however as the operator raises the device in the'water the valve drops, permitting air to flow into the cone, thus relieving the suction and permitting the pounder to be readily raised, whereby the operation of the pounder is eitected with less effort, the cup 4 however furnishing sufficient suction to thoroughly agitate the clothes with water.

I realize that considerable variation, is possible in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I therefore do not intend to limit myself to the specific form shown and described.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- A clothes pounder comprising a conical member provided with a suitable handle, a cup-shaped member, radial arms extending from the cup-shaped member and connected to the lower portion of the pounder, the upper and lower portions of the conical member being provided with openings, air tubes connecting said openings, said conical member being provided with an opening in its upper portion, a tube secured to the outside of the member and surrounding the opening, and a valve for the upper end of the tube, said valve being constructed and arranged to permit air to flow into the conical member, but closing to prevent the flow of air from the conical member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY J. BEHRENS.

lVitnesses Manon R. VVnrrn, V. J. SMITH.

Patented Aug. 31, 1909. 

